Christmas Eve 1984

THIS IS A RE-POST FROM LAST YEAR, BUT SINCE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS NOW UPON US, AND THIS BLOG WAS DROPPED, I THOUGHT I'D PUT IT BACK ON MY BLOG SITE.

There have been occasions in my line of work where I've experience miracles. One took place on Christmas Eve 1984. While on duty at our City's Ambulance service, My partner and I responded to a call of an unresponsive male". Upon arriving on scene, we were met at the door by an elderly woman who said that her husband was not acting right. She escorted us into the living room where we found her husband, an 82 year old man, sitting in a chair. He greeted us with a "Hi ya fellas" waving to us with his left hand. We questioned him as to what his problem was, He stated that he experienced a headache earlier in the evening as he was getting dress to go to midnight mass. He said that he sat in his chair to relax until his daughter was to come pick them up, and then found that his entire right side "went dead". He could not move his entire right side. Following protocols for stroke victims, we immediately got him started on high flow oxygen via a non=rebreather mask and got an IV established. He did not appear to be in any other distress. We loaded him onto our cot and placed him in our ambulance for transport to the hospital . His daughter arrived just prior to us leaving the scene at which time both his wife and daughter became very distraught, crying uncontrollably. We attempted to reassure them that he appered to be stable at that time and that our quick response to the ER would help him. I attempted to reassure him as we were enroute to the hospital. As he cried that he was afraid that he would die and forever ruin the holiday for his children and grandchildren. I asked him if he believed in Christmas miracles. Sobbing he answered, "I Hope too!"

I smiled at him, patted him on the shoulder and asked him if he would like to pray with me. He nodded and grasped my hand as I prayed aloud, "Dear Father, please hear my prayer as I plead for your mercy as I pray for Henry in his time of need. Please put strength in place of his weakness, health in place of his sickness, comfort in place of his pain and faith in place of his doubts. And if it is you will, Father, grant him an early return to his normal routine of life and service to you. In Jesus name we pray . Amen". He smiled and squeezed my hand, tears welling up in his eyes he thanked me. I got on the radio and contacted medical control at the Emergency room and alerted them of our pending arrival.

Upon our arrival, the medical staff was assembled and prepared for our arrival. Just as we arrived, we were alerted by Dispatch of a pending call for a motor vehicle accident with possible injuries. After transferring patient care to the hospital staff, we left for the accident scene. I told him that I would check on him when we returned.

The accident was only a fender bender, but did require us to transport one driver with a suspected neck injury. Upon our return to the ER, we placed our second patient of the evening three beds down from where we took our first patient who was not in his bed. Fearing the worst, I asked one of the nurses as to the whereabouts of our first patient. She said that he was taken down to radiology to undergo a CAT Scan.. Relieved, we went into one of the offices to begin our reports, As I completed the first report I saw our first patient return from Radiology. He saw me in the office and hollered for me. "Hey young fella". I walked over to his bedside next to where his wife and daughter sat. "You know what you asked me in the ambulance about believing in Christmas miracles?" When I told him "Yes", he reached across the bed with his right hand and grabbed my arm. We all cried as we experienced the mighty power of prayer. The Christmas miracle had taken place as I had hoped.

For the next several years, firefighters who tested the fire hydrant in front of his house were always greeted by this elderly gentleman. And his wife always had a pitcher of iced lemonade for the guys. They always insisted that they take a break and "have a cool one" with him and his wife. She always delivered a tray of homemade cookies every Christmas to Fire Station #2 where I worked.

About four years later, when I was assigned to test the hydrant in front of their house, the elderly gentleman did not greet us as he usually had done. I questioned a neighbor who was out doing some yardwork. Sadly he told me that he had passed away earlier that year from complications from a heart procedure.

Every Christmas Eve when I attend services at my church, I always say a prayer for my old friend who proved to us all that Christmas miracles do occur if you just believe in the power of prayer.